Mercedes Mullins
The Convair B-58 Hustler was a high-speed strategic bomber, capable of reaching speeds of Mach 2. It was designed to carry a large amount of fuel, with a wet wing divided into fore and aft tanks, and additional tanks in the rear fuselage. The total wing fuel capacity was 34,100 liters (9,000 US gallons), and the fuselage fuel capacity was 19,000 liters (5,000 US gallons). The B-58 Hustler also had the ability to be refueled in-flight and was equipped with a refueling socket in the nose forward of the cockpit. The large fuel capacity of the aircraft allowed it to break records, including the longest sustained supersonic flight from London to Tokyo in 8 hours.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Aircraft Type | High-speed strategic bomber |
| Engine | Four General Electric J79-GE-1 turbojet engines |
| Speed | Mach 2 at altitude |
| Wing Type | Large delta wing with a 60-degree leading-edge sweep |
| Wing Fuel Capacity | 34,100 liters (9,000 US gallons) |
| Fuselage Fuel Capacity | 19,000 liters (5,000 US gallons) |
| Total Fuel Capacity | 53,100 liters (14,000 US gallons) |
| Refueling | Boom-type inflight refueling with a refueling socket in the nose |
| Landing Gear | Steerable nose gear with twin wheels and a vertical travel of 38 cm (15 inches); each main gear has eight wheels with a vertical travel of 43 cm (17 inches) |
| Height | 2.75 meters (9 feet) without the weapons pod |
| Climb Rate | 46,000 ft/min (235 m/s) |
| Range | Limited compared to the B-52 |
| Cost | $3 billion through FY 1961 ($24 billion in 2023 dollars) |
| Maintenance | High, requiring specialized equipment and ground personnel |
| Average Maintenance Cost per Flying Hour | $1,440 |
| Pods | Standard "MB-1C" weapons pod carrying a W39Y1-1 multi-megaton nuclear weapon and fuel; "MD-1" ECM pod, radar reconnaissance pod with Hughes AN/APQ-69 SLAR |
| World Record | Longest sustained supersonic flight from London to Tokyo in 8 hours |
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What You'll Learn
The B-58's total fuel capacity
The Convair B-58 Hustler was a high-speed strategic bomber capable of Mach 2 at altitude. It was powered by four General Electric J79-GE-1 turbojet engines. The B-58 had a large fuel capacity, with a "wet" wing divided into fore and aft tanks, with a total wing fuel capacity of 34,100 liters (9,000 US gallons). In addition, there were two tanks in the rear fuselage, with a total fuselage fuel capacity of 19,000 liters (5,000 US gallons). This gave the B-58 a total fuel capacity of 53,100 liters (14,000 US gallons).
The B-58's fuel system was quite elaborate due to issues with fuel trim during initial flight tests. The aircraft was designed with a boom-type in-flight refueling system, with a refueling socket located in the nose forward of the cockpit. The B-58's landing gear also required significant engineering effort, as the aircraft sat about 2.75 meters (9 feet) off the ground with the weapons pod removed. The steerable nose gear had twin wheels with a vertical travel of 38 centimeters (15 inches), while each main gear had eight wheels mounted on two axles, with a vertical travel of 43 centimeters (17 inches). All three gear assemblies retracted backward, and the main gear tires were relatively small at only 56 centimeters (22 inches) in diameter to fit inside the thin wings.
The B-58's fuel capacity was so large that it couldn't take off when fully loaded. The weapons pods could also accommodate fuel, further increasing the aircraft's range. The rearmost fuselage tank served as a ballast tank to maintain pitch trim as fuel was consumed. The B-58's performance was exceptional, with a lightly loaded aircraft capable of climbing at nearly 46,000 ft/min (235 m/s). However, it was an extremely expensive aircraft to acquire and maintain.
The B-58 set a world record for the longest sustained supersonic flight from London to Tokyo in 8 hours, which included five in-flight refuelings. This flight halved the previous record of 17 hours and 42 minutes. The B-58's speed and altitude made it a formidable aircraft, as it could move faster and higher than most contemporary fighters. The B-58 was also considered for carrying specialized pods for electronic countermeasures and cruise missiles, but these were not adopted.
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In-flight refuelling
The Convair B-58 Hustler was a supersonic strategic bomber, the first capable of Mach 2 flight. It was designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer Convair and entered service in March 1960. The B-58 had a large fuel capacity, with a "wet" wing divided into fore and aft tanks, and additional tanks in the rear fuselage. The total wing fuel capacity was 34,100 liters (9,000 US gallons), and the fuselage fuel capacity was 19,000 liters (5,000 US gallons).
The B-58 was designed to fly at high altitudes and supersonic speeds to avoid Soviet interceptors. However, with the Soviet introduction of high-altitude surface-to-air missiles, the B-58 was forced to adopt a low-level penetration role that severely limited its range and strategic value. As a result, the B-58 required frequent in-flight refuelling, which was accomplished through a boom-type system with a refuelling socket located in the nose forward of the cockpit.
One notable example of in-flight refuelling involving the B-58 Hustler was Operation Heat Rise on March 5, 1962. During this operation, two B-58 Hustler supersonic bombers from the 65th Bombardment Squadron took off from Carswell Air Force Base in Texas and headed west to Los Angeles, California. Off the Pacific coast, they refuelled from a Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker before heading east at maximum speed. The B-58s then entered a radar starting gate at Los Angeles but were not initially detected, so they returned to the tanker for additional fuel before successfully entering the gate on their second attempt.
The B-58 Hustler also played a crucial role in the development of in-flight refuelling techniques and technologies. For example, problems with fuel leaks during the B-58's early operations led to the creation of a new "two-component pod (TCP)" system. This system utilized twin stacked pods, with the upper pod carrying a nuclear weapon and sensors, and the lower pod serving as a large drop tank that could be discarded once exhausted. This innovation enhanced the B-58's capabilities and contributed to the advancement of aerial refuelling practices.
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Fuel leaks and the two-component pod system
The B-58 Hustler was a supersonic strategic bomber, the first capable of Mach 2 flight. It was designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer Convair during the 1950s for the United States Air Force (USAF) Strategic Air Command (SAC). The B-58 was a very demanding aircraft that only very experienced flight crews were assigned to. It had a large fuel capacity, with a "wet" wing divided into fore and aft tanks. The skin panels were fitted with gasketing to allow them to serve as the tank walls. There were also two tanks in the rear fuselage, with the rearmost fuselage tank intended as a ballast tank to maintain pitch trim as fuel was expended.
Fuel trim proved to be a significant challenge during the initial aircraft flight tests. This led to the Hustler's elaborate production aircraft fuel system, which included boom-type in-flight refueling capabilities. The B-58's standard "MB-1C" weapons pod was a large spindle with tailfins that carried both a W39Y1-1 multi-megaton nuclear weapon and fuel, with the fuel stored in tanks at both ends to ensure trim. However, problems with fuel leaks in the MB-1C pod led to the development of a new two-component pod (TCP) system.
The two-component pod (TCP) system utilized twin stacked pods, with the upper pod carrying a BA53-Y1 nuclear weapon and barometric sensors, while the lower pod served as a large drop tank that could be discarded during an operational mission once it was emptied. This system addressed the fuel leaks and provided the benefit of allowing the pilot to "clean up" the aircraft for fuel efficiency or in emergency situations while retaining a more slender weapon profile. The two-component pod system was implemented from 1961 to 1963, and during this time, the B-58 was retrofitted with additional pylons for nuclear weapons, enabling a total of five nuclear weapons per aircraft.
The B-58 Hustler's fuel system and two-component pod (TCP) system were designed to address the challenges of fuel trim and fuel leaks. The two-component pod system improved fuel efficiency, safety, and weapon carrying capacity, showcasing the innovative engineering solutions employed in the B-58 Hustler's design and operation.
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Fuel control panels and setting the aircraft's centre of gravity
The B-58 Hustler is a high-speed strategic bomber, capable of Mach 2 at altitude. It is powered by four General Electric J79-GE-1 turbojet engines, which produce 62,400 pounds of thrust at full power. The B-58 has an empty weight of 55,650 pounds and a complex fuel system, with a dedicated defensive systems operator (DSO) monitoring and transferring fuel among the many holding tanks.
The fuel control panels are located on the right side of the cockpit. The pilot can use these to shift fuel and set the aircraft's centre of gravity (CG) depending on the mode of flight, be it subsonic or supersonic. The centre of gravity is the point over which the aircraft would balance, and it affects the stability of the aircraft in flight. It is calculated by supporting the aircraft on at least two sets of weighing scales or load cells and noting the weight on each. The centre of gravity may change during the flight as weight changes due to fuel burn or passengers moving within the cabin.
To find the centre of gravity, the total moment is divided by the total weight. This calculation must be within the centre of gravity limits set by the manufacturer, and if not, weight must be removed, added, or redistributed. The manufacturer provides the weight, arm, and moment values of fixed items on the aircraft, and information to facilitate the calculation of moments for fuel loads. Removable weight items, such as crew, passengers, and baggage, must be accounted for in the calculation by the aircraft operator.
The horizontal reference datum is an imaginary vertical plane or point, placed along the longitudinal axis of the aircraft, from which all horizontal distances are measured for weight and balance purposes. The arm is the horizontal distance from this reference datum to the centre of gravity. The reference datum is established by the manufacturer and defined in the aircraft flight manual.
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Fuel trim problems and the elaborate fuel system
The B-58 Hustler had a large fuel capacity, with a "wet" wing divided into fore and aft tanks. The total wing fuel capacity was 34,100 liters (9,000 US gallons). There were also two tanks in the rear fuselage, providing a total fuselage fuel capacity of 19,000 liters (5,000 US gallons). The weapons pods could also carry fuel, and the aircraft's fuel capacity was so great that it couldn't take off when fully loaded.
Fuel trim proved to be a major problem during the initial aircraft flight tests, leading to the development of an elaborate fuel system. The Hustler was fitted for boom-type in-flight refueling, with a refueling socket in the nose forward of the cockpit.
Now, onto the details of fuel trim problems and the fuel system. Fuel trim refers to the adjustments made by a vehicle's engine control unit (ECU) to the fuel delivery system to maintain the ideal air-fuel mixture ratio. Short-term fuel trim occurs due to changes in oxygen levels in exhaust gases, which are monitored by an oxygen sensor. The ECU then reacts by making immediate changes, hence the term "short-term." Long-term fuel trim, on the other hand, relies on sensors located further downstream in the exhaust system, past the catalytic converter. These sensors provide a more constant signal compared to those used for short-term fuel trim.
Fuel trim problems can be identified through fuel trim readings. For example, if the LTFT fuel trim readings are trending high, it could indicate an issue such as a slight ignition misfire or dirty fuel injectors. Lean fuel mixtures, which occur when the engine doesn't have enough fuel relative to oxygen levels, are more common than rich fuel mixtures. Lean mixtures will result in higher positive fuel trim readings, while rich mixtures will yield negative fuel trim values. If you notice that your engine is running rich, you should check the mass airflow sensor, O2 or air fuel sensors, and the engine cooling temperature sensor for any defects or malfunctions.
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Frequently asked questions
The B-58 Hustler has a large fuel capacity, with a "wet" wing divided into fore and aft tanks, with a total wing fuel capacity of 34,100 liters (9,000 US gallons).
The B58 Hustler has a wet" wing that is divided into fore and aft tanks. There are also two tanks in the rear fuselage, with a total fuselage fuel capacity of 19,000 liters (5,000 US gallons).
The rearmost fuselage tank is primarily used as a ballast tank to maintain pitch trim as fuel is consumed.
Yes, the B58 Hustler encountered problems with fuel leaks, which led to the development of a new "two-component pod (TCP)" system that utilized twin stacked pods. The lower pod served as a large drop tank that was discarded during operational missions once it was empty.
Yes, the B58 Hustler required in-flight refueling. During its record-breaking flight from Tokyo, Japan, to London, England, it had to slow down five times for in-flight refueling.
